U.S. patent application number 11/907669 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for container cap.
This patent application is currently assigned to Japan Crown Cork Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Mitsuo Kumata, Hiroomi Matsutani, Yuji Tomitaka.
Application Number | 20080087625 11/907669 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38922709 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080087625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kumata; Mitsuo ; et
al. |
April 17, 2008 |
Container cap
Abstract
A container cap which offers improved opening/closing
performance and improved touch feeling. Linear protuberances are
formed on the circumferential wall of the main portion of the skirt
of the container cap of the container. The protuberances include
large protuberances having a large height and small protuberances
having heights of protrusion from the outer surface of the
circumferential wall portion smaller than that of the large
protuberances. The main portion has large protuberance regions
forming a plurality of large protuberances and small protuberance
regions forming a plurality of small protuberances, the large
protuberance regions and the small protuberance regions being
alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the main
portion.
Inventors: |
Kumata; Mitsuo;
(Hiratsuka-shi, JP) ; Matsutani; Hiroomi;
(Hiratsuka-shi, JP) ; Tomitaka; Yuji;
(Hiratsuka-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
Japan Crown Cork Co., Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38922709 |
Appl. No.: |
11/907669 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/3428 20130101;
B65D 41/0485 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/252 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/34 20060101
B65D041/34; B65D 41/32 20060101 B65D041/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2006 |
JP |
2006-282552 |
Claims
1. A container cap comprising a top panel wall and a skirt wall of
a cylindrical shape hanging down from the circumferential edge of
the top panel wall, the skirt wall being sectioned into a main
portion over a weakened line that is extending in the
circumferential direction and can be broken and a tamper-evidence
hem under the weakened line, and the circumferential wall portion
of at least the main portion of the skirt wall having linear
protuberances protruding on the outer side of the circumferential
wall portion and extending in the up-and-down direction of the main
portion in a plural number along the whole circumferential
direction of the main portion, wherein the protuberances include
large protuberances having a large height and small protuberances
having a height of protrusion from the outer surface of the
circumferential wall portion smaller than that of the large
protuberances, and the main portion has large protuberance regions
forming a plurality of large protuberances and small protuberance
regions forming a plurality of small protuberances, the large
protuberance regions and the small protuberance regions being
alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the main
portion.
2. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein protuberances
formed on the small protuberance regions of the container cap are
such that the small protuberances at positions close to the middle
side of the small protuberance regions in the circumferential
direction have a height of protrusion from the outer surface of the
circumferential wall portion smaller than the height of protrusion
of the small protuberances positioned on the outer sides.
3. The container cap according to claim 2, wherein in the small
protuberance regions, the height of protrusion of the small
protuberances gradually decreases toward the middle side from the
outer sides in the circumferential direction.
4. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the large
protuberance regions and the small protuberance regions are so
arranged that the angles thereof in the circumferential direction
are not smaller than 10 degrees but are not larger than 45
degrees.
5. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the inner
surface of the circumferential wall portion of the main portion is
internally threaded to come into engagement with the mouth-and-neck
portion of the container, the internal thread forming a threaded
portion having a screw thread and a plurality of missing portion
where the screw thread is missing, the threaded portion being
arranged on the inner surface of the circumferential wall portion
of at least the small protuberance regions, and at least the large
protuberance regions being arranged on the outer surface of the
circumferential wall portion at the missing portions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a container cap which is
fitted to the mouth-and-neck portion of a container containing such
a liquid as a beverage, a detergent or a chemical agent, and which
offers good touch feeling at the time when it is to be opened or
closed.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A container cap of a container for containing coffee or
carbonated beverage has linear protuberances (vertical ribs, often
called knurling in this field of art) extending in the up-and-down
direction and formed on the so-called skirt wall corresponding to
the circumferential wall portion of a cylindrical shape with
bottom. The protuberances are so formed that the fingers will not
slip at the time of opening or closing the container cap.
[0005] Protuberances of the same shape and of the same height are
usually formed on the container cap. For easier opening and closing
of the container cap, however, a technology has been proposed as
disclosed in JP-A-2001-354247. According to this technology, the
linear protuberances extending in the up-and-down direction of the
skirt wall include two kinds of protuberances, i.e., tall
protuberances (hereinafter referred to as large protuberances) and
short protuberances (hereinafter referred to as small
protuberances), the large protuberances and the small protuberances
being alternately arranged along the whole circumference of the
skirt wall of the container cap in the circumferential direction
thereof. This improves the catch by fingers at the time of opening
or closing the container cap; i.e., the opening/closing performance
of the container cap can be improved.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In a state where large protuberances and small protuberances
are alternately arranged as in the technology of above
JP-A-2001-354247, catching by fingers (opening/closing performance)
decreases if a difference in the height is small between the large
protuberances and the small protuberances. If a difference in the
height is large between the large protuberances and the small
protuberances, on the other hand, tough feeling (contact feeling)
will often be such that the ends of the large protuberances bite
into the inner surfaces of the fingers at the time of opening or
closing the container cap causing a pain. With the container cap
provided with a tamper-evidence band, in particular, when the user
is going to open the cap, first, after having purchased the
beverage, the bridging portion of the tamper-evidence band must be
broken requiring a larger force than that of usually opening the
cap, and the protuberance may bite more into the finger tips.
[0007] According to JP-A-2001-354247, heights of the large
protuberances and small protuberances, and a pitch between the
large protuberance and the small protuberance, are adjusted to
improve opening/closing performance of the container cap as well as
to improve the touch feeling at the time of opening and closing.
With the shape in which the large protuberances and the small
protuberances are alternately arranged, however, limitation is
imposed on improving the opening/closing performance and improving
the touch feeling.
[0008] The present invention was accomplished in view of the above
circumstances and its object is to provide a container cap which
offers improved opening/closing performance and improved touch
feeling.
[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
provides a container cap comprising a top panel wall and a skirt
wall of a cylindrical shape hanging down from the circumferential
edge of the top panel wall, the skirt wall being sectioned into a
main portion over a weakened line that is extending in the
circumferential direction and can be broken and a tamper-evidence
hem under the weakened line, and the circumferential wall portion
of at least the main portion of the skirt wall having linear
protuberances protruding on the outer side of the circumferential
wall portion and extending in the up-and-down direction of the main
portion in a plural number along the whole circumferential
direction of the main portion, wherein
[0010] the protuberances include large protuberances having a large
height and small protuberances having a height of protrusion from
the outer surface of the circumferential wall portion smaller than
that of the large protuberances, and the main portion has large
protuberance regions forming a plurality of large protuberances and
small protuberance regions forming a plurality of small
protuberances, the large protuberance regions and the small
protuberance regions being alternately arranged in the
circumferential direction of the main portion.
[0011] The protuberances formed on the small protuberance regions
of the container cap are such that the small protuberances at
positions close to the middle side of the small protuberance
regions in the circumferential direction have a height of
protrusion from the outer surface of the circumferential wall
portion smaller than the height of protrusion of the small
protuberances positioned on the outer sides.
[0012] In the small protuberance regions, it is desired that the
height of protrusion of the small protuberances gradually decreases
toward the middle side from the outer sides in the circumferential
direction.
[0013] In the container cap, the large protuberance regions and the
small protuberance regions can be so arranged that the angles
thereof in the circumferential direction are not smaller than 10
degrees but are not larger than 45 degrees.
[0014] In the container cap, it is desired that the inner surface
of the circumferential wall portion of the main portion is
internally threaded to come into engagement with the mouth-and-neck
portion of the container, the internal thread forming a threaded
portion having a screw thread and a plurality of missing portion
where the screw thread is missing, the threaded portion being
arranged on the inner surface of the circumferential wall portion
of at least the small protuberance regions, and at least the large
protuberance regions being arranged on the outer surface of the
circumferential wall portion at the missing portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container cap according to
a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the container cap of the
present invention engaging with a container, wherein the right side
of the center line in the drawing is a front view of the container
cap, and the left side is a sectional view thereof;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of when the container cap is cut
in the direction of a line X-X in FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of when the container cap of FIG.
1 is cut in the vertical direction;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the container cap of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a side view of the container cap according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the container cap in the
direction of a line Y-Y in FIG. 6, omitting the top panel wall;
and
[0022] FIG. 8A is a sectional view of the shape of protuberances of
Comparative Example 1, FIG. 8B is a sectional view of the shape of
protuberances of Comparative Example 2, FIG. 8C is a sectional view
of the shape of protuberances of Comparative Example 3, FIG. 8D is
a sectional view of the shape of protuberances of Comparative
Example 4, and FIG. 8E is a sectional view of the shape of
protuberances of Example 1, which are in an Experiment 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] A container cap according to a first embodiment of the
present invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container cap 1 according
to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view wherein the right
side of the center line is a front view of the container cap 1 and
the left side is a sectional view of the container cap 1.
[0025] The container cap 1 is formed by using a synthetic resin
such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The container cap 1 has a
top panel wall 5 of the shape of a disk and a skirt wall 6 of
nearly a cylindrical shape hanging down from the circumferential
edge of the top panel wall 5. The circular top panel wall 5 of the
container cap 1 extends as a whole substantially horizontally, and
a weakened line 7 is formed in the lower part of the skirt wall 6
extending in the circumferential direction. The skirt wall 6 has a
main portion 8 over the weakened line 7 and a tamper-evidence hem
10 under thereof.
[0026] The circumferential weakened line 7 is constituted by slits
12 formed maintaining a gap in the circumferential direction and
bridging portions 14 present among the slits 12. The bridging
portions 14 couple the main portion 8 and the hem 10 together in
the up-and-down direction, and have a length in the circumferential
direction very shorter than the length of the slits 12 in the
circumferential direction, so as to be easily broken.
[0027] The main portion 8 of the skirt wall 6 is forming a
cylindrical circumferential wall portion 16 of an equal thickness
and a plurality of protuberances 17 protruding outward from the
circumferential wall portion 16 in the radial direction. The
protuberances 17 are of a linear (rib-like) shape linearly
extending in the up-and-down direction of the skirt wall 6, and are
formed along the whole circumference of the main portion 8.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3 which is a sectional view cutting the
container cap 1 in the horizontal direction, the protuberances 17
include large protuberances 18a having a large height and small
protuberances 19a to 19c having heights smaller than that of the
large protuberances 18a. The large protuberances are nearly of a
semicircular shape in cross section. The large protuberances 18a of
the same shape are arranged maintaining the same pitch and, in this
embodiment, continuously in a number of five. A region in which the
large protuberances are continuously arranged in a number of five
is hereinafter referred to as a large protuberance region 18. The
large protuberance regions 18 constituted in the same shape are
arranged in a plural number maintaining an equal distance in the
circumferential direction of the main portion 8. The angle of the
large protuberance region 18 in the circumferential direction is
preferably in a range of 10 degrees to 45 degrees.
[0029] Small protuberance regions 19 are formed among the large
protuberance regions 18 of the main portion 8. In the small
protuberance region 19, small protuberances 19a to 19c of heights
smaller than that of the large protuberances 18a are protruding
from the circumferential wall portion 16. Among the small
protuberances 19a to 19c in the small protuberance region 19, the
two small protuberances 19a positioned on the most outer sides have
a height smaller than the height of the large protuberances 18a.
The two inner small protuberances 19b positioned on the insides of
the outer small protuberances 19a have a height smaller than the
height of the outer small protuberances 19a. The central small
protuberance 19c at the center in the small protuberance region 19
on the insides of the inner small protuberances 19b has a height
which is smaller than the height of the inner small protuberances
19b. The outer small protuberances 19a, inner small protuberances
19b and the central small protuberance 19c are formed maintaining a
pitch in the circumferential direction equal to the pitch among the
large protuberances 18a in the circumferential direction.
Therefore, the angle of the large protuberance region 18 in the
circumferential direction and the angle of the small protuberance
region 19 in the circumferential direction are in agreement in this
embodiment. However, the pitches of the large protuberance regions
18 and of the small protuberance regions 19 do not necessarily have
to be in agreement with each other but may be suitably varied.
[0030] In the large protuberance region 18, the large protuberances
18a are protruding by the same height from the outer surface of the
circumferential wall portion 16. In the small protuberance region
19, the small protuberances 19a, 19b and 19c are arranged in this
order from the outer side toward the middle side of the small
protuberance region 19, and the height of protrusion from the outer
surface of the circumferential wall portion 16 is gradually
decreasing in order of small protuberances 19a, 19b and 19c. In the
main portion 8, therefore, the large protuberance regions 18 have a
large thickness due to the presence of large protuberances 18a, and
the small protuberance regions 19 have a small thickness due to the
small protuberances 19a, 19b, 19c having heights smaller than that
of the large protuberances 18a.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, the outer periphery of the
mouth-and-neck portion 3 of the container 2 is externally threaded
as designated at 4, and the inner peripheral surface of the main
portion 8 of the skirt wall 6 of the container cap 1 is internally
threaded as designated at 21 to be screw-fitted to the external
thread 4. Referring to FIG. 4, a screw thread of the internal
thread 21 formed in the container cap 1 is so formed as to mildly
and helically extend along the inner circumferential wall of the
main portion 8, and includes the portions with threaded portion 21a
and the missing portions 21b without the threaded portion 21a.
Referring to FIG. 3, the portions with the threaded portion 21a are
arranged facing the positions on the inner circumferential surface
of the main portion 8 where the small protuberance regions 19 are
present. The missing portions 21b without the threaded portion 21a
are arranged facing the portions on the inner circumferential
surface of the main portion 8 where the large protuberance regions
18 are present.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, an annular seal 23 is formed on the
inner surface side of the top panel wall 5 but on the outer side in
the radial direction, the annular seal 23 protruding downward from
the top panel wall 5. An annular lip 24 is formed on the further
outer side in the radial direction of the top panel wall 5, the
annular lip 24 similarly protruding downward from the top panel
wall 5. The annular seal 23 maintains sealing as its outer
circumferential surface comes in contact with the inner
circumferential surface 3a of the mouth-and-neck portion 3 of the
container 2.
[0033] The annular lip 24 forms a step 24a of an inversely stepped
shape on the side of the inner circumference thereof, the step 24a
being formed at a position corresponding to a shoulder portion 3b
of the mouth-and-neck portion 3 to play the role of bringing the
container cap 1 into the position of the mouth-and-neck portion
3.
[0034] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the container cap 1, wherein ribs
26 are formed on the inner surface of the top panel wall 5 toward
the inside in the radial direction from the inner circumferential
surface of the annular seal 23. The ribs 26 are formed at three
places maintaining an equal angular distance (120 degrees). In a
state where the pressure increases in the container 2, for example,
the central portion of the top panel wall 5 of the container cap 1
may expand upward of the container 2. The ribs 26 are coupled at
their base ends to the annular seal 23. In this case, the ribs 26
that move accompanying the motion of the top panel wall 5 work to
deform the annular seal 23 in a direction to release the sealing
enabling the interior of the container 2 to be vented.
[0035] Plate-like flaps 30 of a rectangular shape are coupled to
the lower side on the inner circumferential surface of the hem 10
of the container cap 1, and are so formed that the end sides
thereof are directed upward and aslant toward the inner
circumferential surface side of the container cap 1. The base end
side of the flap 30 which is a portion coupling to the container
cap 1 plays the role of a hinge, and the flap 30 is provided with
flexibility due to the elasticity of the resin. Referring to FIGS.
4 and 5, the flaps 30 are formed on the inner circumferential
surface of the hem 10 maintaining a gap in the circumferential
direction of the hem 10. Referring to FIG. 2, an engaging portion
28 having a surface facing downward is formed in the lower part of
the external thread 4 on the outer circumferential surface of the
mouth-and-neck portion 3 of the container 2, the engaging portion
28 protruding outward of the container 2. After having climbed over
the engaging portion 28 in its folded state at the time of closing
the container cap 1, the flaps 30 have their ends directed toward
the center side of the container 2 so as to be arranged under the
lower surface of the engaging portion 28.
[0036] To open the container cap 1, a user grips the container by
his one hand and opens the container cap by the fingers of the
other hand. Upon turning the main portion 8, the container cap 1 as
a whole moves up due to the action of the external and internal
threads 4, 21. Here, however, the flaps 30 provided for the
tamper-evidence hem 10 are engaged with the engaging portion 28 of
the container 2 and, therefore, the side of the main portion 8 only
moves upward. The bridging portions 14 of the weakened line 7 are
broken due to the motion of the main portion, and the side of the
main portion 8 is separated away from the mouth-and-neck portion 3
of the container 2 with the weakened line 7 as a boundary.
[0037] To separate the weakened line 7, a force larger than that of
usually opening the cap is required. In this embodiment, however,
the large protuberance regions 18 and the small protuberance
regions 19 are alternately formed along the circumference of the
main portion 8 of the container cap 1. The user touches the main
portion 8 by his fingers and exerts a large force without finding
his finger tips slipping. That is, upon touching the large and
small protuberance regions 18, 19 by hand, the user feels smooth
contact feeling. According to the container cap 1 of this
embodiment as described above, a mildly undulating curve is
described by the ends of large protuberances 18a of the large
protuberance regions 18 and by the ends of the small protuberances
19a to 19c of the small protuberance regions 19, preventing a
painful and biting finger touch when the large protuberance regions
18 and the small protuberance regions 19 are pushed by finger tips.
Even after the weakened line 7 has been cut off, the container cap
1 can be favorably opened or closed offering good contact
feeling.
[0038] In this embodiment, the large protuberances 18a are of an
ordinary height and the small protuberances 19a to 19c are
protruding less than the large protuberances 18a. Therefore, the
thickness of the main portion (skirt wall 6) 8 can be decreased by
an amount the small protuberances 19a to 19c are protruding less,
contributing to reducing the weight of the container cap 1 and the
material cost. It is, on the other hand, probable that the
container cap 1 locally lose the strength by an amount the
thickness of the small protuberance regions 19 is decreased. To
cope with this as shown in FIG. 3, threaded portions 21a are formed
in the internal thread 21 so as to be corresponded to the small
protuberance regions and missing portions 21b are formed in the
internal thread 21 so as to be corresponded to the large
protuberance regions 18 having a large rigidity. In the container
cap 1 as described above, the threaded portions 21a and the missing
portions 21b are suitably arranged maintaining balance in the
strength of the container cap, improving cooling efficiency in
forming the container cap 1, maintaining balance in the parting
resistance and suppressing slack in the thread.
[0039] The container cap 1 is held by a holding fitting (not shown)
at the time of filling beverage or the like, and is wrap-seamed
with the container 2 with a predetermined force and a rotational
torque. At this moment, the rugged shape of the plurality of
protuberances 17 engages with the holding fitting preventing the
slipping at the time of wrap-seaming the container cap 1. The
holding fitting is caught by the protuberances 17 without problem
and no dispersion occurs in the angle of wrap-seaming.
[0040] The flaps 30 are formed on the hem 10 of the skirt wall 6 of
the container cap 1 maintaining a gap in the circumferential
direction. Here, the flaps 30 may be formed being corresponded to
the small protuberance regions 19 while forming no flap 30 for the
large protuberance regions 18 to reinforce the rigidity of the
small protuberance regions 19.
[0041] Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be
described.
[0042] FIG. 6 is a side view of the container cap according to a
second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the container
cap in the direction of a line Y-Y in FIG. 6, omitting the top
panel wall. The same portions as those of the above embodiment are
denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0043] In the above first embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, threaded
portions 21a are formed in the internal thread 21 so as to be
corresponded to the small protuberance regions 19 and missing
portions 21b are formed in the internal thread 21 so as to be
corresponded to the large protuberance regions 18 having a large
rigidity to maintain balance in the strength of the container cap
1.
[0044] However, in case, when, for example, the thread is turned by
1.5 turns in the circumferential direction, there occur a portion
where the internal threads are present being overlapped in the
up-and-down direction and a portion where the internal thread is
simply present without overlapping. In such a case, if a missing
portion is formed in the portion where the thread is present
without overlapped, it is probable that the rigidity of the missing
portion becomes smaller than other portions. In the second
embodiment, the balance of rigidity is taken into
consideration.
[0045] In the container cap 1 of this embodiment as shown in FIGS.
6 and 7, the internal thread 21 helically formed in the inner
surface of the container cap 1 is provided with a circumferential
thread-overlapped region M in which the threads are doubly
overlapped in the up-and-down direction of the container cap 1 and
a circumferential single-thread portion S in which only one thread
is present without overlapped. In the circumferential single-thread
region S, screw threads have not been doubly formed up and down.
Therefore, the circumferential single-thread region S has a
rigidity smaller than that of the circumferential thread-overlapped
region M.
[0046] In this embodiment, therefore, a continuously threaded
portion 21c is formed over the circumferential single-thread region
S without forming missing portion 21b irrespective of the small
protuberance regions 19 or the large protuberance regions 18. If
described in further detail, the screw thread is formed from one
end (starting end) of the internal thread 21 where the internal
thread 21 has not been formed up to the circumferential
single-thread region S which is the other end (terminating end)
thereof. In this embodiment, further, the continuously threaded
portion 21c is formed up to the threaded portions 21a adjacent to
both ends of the circumferential single-thread region S.
[0047] This prevents the container cap 1 from locally losing the
rigidity in the circumferential direction at the threaded portions
where the number of overlappings (number of turns) of the thread in
the circumferential direction cannot be divided by a positive
number.
[0048] Next, described below is an experiment of the container cap
of the invention.
[0049] In an Experiment 1, the opening function of the container
cap, capping aptitude and weight were tested depending upon the
arrangement of the large protuberances and the small protuberances
shown in FIG. 3 and upon the presence of small protuberances. The
opening function of the container cap compared the catching
performance (opening performance) of the container cap at the time
when it was opened and the feeling (contact feeling) of
protuberances 17 that bit into the fingers at the time of gripping
the container cap. The capping aptitude compared if the holding
fitting engaged with the protuberances 17 could stably close the
container cap without undergoing slipping at the time when the
container was wrap-seamed with the container cap by the holding
fitting with a predetermined force and a rotational torque.
[0050] In Comparative Example 1, a container cap was formed by
forming, as shown in FIG. 8A, six large protuberances 18a and
forming no protuberance among the large protuberance regions 18. In
Comparative Example 2, a container cap was formed by forming, as
shown in FIG. 8B, five large protuberances 18a and a large
protuberance 18a at the central portions among the large
protuberance regions 18. In Comparative Example 3, a container cap
was formed by alternately forming the large protuberances 18a and
the small protuberances 19a as shown in FIG. 8C. In Comparative
Example 4, a container cap was formed by uniformly arranging the
large protuberances 18a over the whole circumference of the main
portion of the skirt wall as shown in FIG. 8D. In Example 1, as
shown in FIG. 8E, the large protuberance regions 18 and the small
protuberance regions 19 which were the same as those of the
embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5 were alternately formed surrounding the
main portion of the skirt wall.
[0051] The results of test were as shown in Table 1. TABLE-US-00001
TABLE 1 Opening function Shape of Opening Contact Capping
protuberance performance feeling aptitude Weight Comp. 6 crests/
.circleincircle. .DELTA. .largecircle. .circleincircle. Ex. 1 0
crest Comp. 5 crests/ .largecircle. .DELTA. .DELTA. .largecircle.
Ex. 2 1 crest Comp. alternate .DELTA. .largecircle. .largecircle.
.DELTA. Ex. 3 Comp. uniform .DELTA. .circleincircle.
.circleincircle. .DELTA. Ex. 4 120 crests Ex. 1 undulating
.circleincircle. .circleincircle. .largecircle. .largecircle.
Decreasingly favorable in order of .circleincircle., .largecircle.,
.DELTA..
[0052] As for .circleincircle., .largecircle. and .DELTA.
representing the evaluation in Table 1, .circleincircle. represents
the most high evaluation followed by other evaluations. Here,
however, .DELTA. is not to mean that the container cap cannot be
used.
[0053] The results of testing tell that when the large protuberance
regions were formed but no protuberance among the large
protuberance regions as in Comparative Example 1, the opening
performance was evaluated to be high at the time of opening and
closing, but a difference in the ruggedness was so large that the
contact feeling at the time of gripping the skirt wall was
evaluated to be poor. In Comparative Example 4 of the ordinary
container cap having large protuberances uniformly formed thereon,
the catching was weak at the time of opening, and the opening
performance at the time of opening and closing was evaluated to be
poor though the contact feeling was highly evaluated without
causing pain to the finger tips at the time of gripping. In
Comparative Examples 2 and 3, the container caps were not
particularly highly evaluated. In Example 1, both the opening
performance and contact feeling at the time of opening and closing
were highly evaluated.
[0054] Next, as Experiment 2, the opening performance of the
container cap and the touch feeling upon opening were tested by
varying the angle .theta. of large protuberances in the
circumferential direction at both end positions of the large
protuberance regions shown in FIG. 3.
[0055] The conditions of the container cap were as described below.
That is, the small protuberance regions possessed the same
protuberance shape (five protuberances) as that of the above
Example, and the angle .theta. in the circumferential direction was
varied by increasing or decreasing the number of the large
protuberances without varying the pitch among the large
protuberances in the large protuberance region. The angle of one
pitch between the large protuberances or between the small
protuberances was 3 degrees in the circumferential direction (120
crests as a whole). Referring to FIG. 3, the angle .theta. of the
large protuberance region in the circumferential direction is 12
degrees since the large protuberances include 4 pitches (Example
3).
[0056] By using the same container, the container caps were opened
and closed, the container caps including the one having an angle
.theta. in the circumferential direction of 6 degrees (3 crests) in
Example 2, the one having an angle .theta. of 12 degrees (5 crests)
in Example 3, the one having an angle .theta. of 27 degrees (10
crests) in Example 4, the one having an angle .theta. of 42 degrees
(15 crests) in Example 5 and the one having an angle .theta. of 57
degrees (20 crests) in Example 6, in order to examine the catching
of the container cap by the finger tips (opening performance), bite
of protuberances into the fingers at the time of opening or
closing, contact feeling (contact feeling for opening) and weight
of the container cap.
[0057] The results were as shown in Table 2. TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2
Opening function Angle of Opening Touch Capping arrangement
performance feeling aptitude Weight Ex. 2 .theta. = 6.degree.
.circleincircle. .largecircle. .DELTA. .largecircle. Ex. 3 .theta.
= 12.degree. .circleincircle. .circleincircle. .largecircle.
.largecircle. Ex. 4 .theta. = 27.degree. .circleincircle.
.circleincircle. .largecircle. .largecircle. Ex. 5 .theta. =
42.degree. .largecircle. .circleincircle. .largecircle.
.largecircle. Ex. 6 .theta. = 57.degree. .DELTA. .circleincircle.
.circleincircle. .DELTA. *Decision: Decreasingly favorable in order
of .circleincircle., .largecircle., .DELTA..
[0058] As for .circleincircle., .largecircle. and .DELTA.
representing the evaluation in Table 1, .circleincircle. represents
the most high evaluation followed by other evaluations. Here,
however, .DELTA. is not to mean that the container cap cannot be
used.
[0059] As the angle .theta.0 in the circumferential direction
decreases, the capping aptitude becomes poor as in Example 2. As
the angle .theta. increases in the circumferential direction, the
contact feeling for opening improves as in Example 6 in which,
however, easiness of gripping was not obtained at the time of
opening and closing. Referring to Examples 3 to 5, excellent
contact feeling for opening was obtained when the angle .theta. in
the circumferential direction was in a range of not smaller than 10
degrees but not larger than 45 degrees, and the opening performance
and the capping aptitude were favorable. As for the weight, the
container cap of Example 6 having the greatest number of large
protuberances was the heaviest as a matter of course, and Example 2
having the smallest number of large protuberances were the
lightest. In Example 2, the weight of the container cap could be
decreased due to the formation of small protuberances. The main
portion where the small protuberances are formed has a decreased
thickness and has a decreased rigidity which, however, is
reinforced by the formation of the threaded portion as described
above.
[0060] The invention was described above by way of embodiments. It
should, however, be noted that the invention can be varied or
modified in a variety of other ways without departing from the
technical spirit of the invention, as a matter of course.
[0061] In the above embodiment, the small protuberance region 19
was so formed that the sizes of the small protuberances 19a to 19c
were gradually decreased toward the center side so as to protrude
less inward of the container cap 1 in the radial direction thereof.
However, the small protuberances may have the same height of
protrusion so that their ends are arranged on the same
circumference.
[0062] The container cap of the invention includes large
protuberance regions having a plurality of large protuberances of a
large height on the main portion of the skirt wall and a small
protuberance regions having a plurality of small protuberances of a
smaller height than that of the large protuberances from the outer
surface of the circumferential wall portion, the large protuberance
regions and the small protuberance regions being alternately
arranged in the circumferential direction of the main portion.
Therefore, the finger tips do not slip at the time of opening or
closing the container cap preventing such a contact feeling that
the finger tips are bit among the protuberances even when the large
protuberances and the small protuberances are strongly touched by
the fingers.
[0063] By forming the small protuberances (protruding lengths of
small protuberances) in two or more sizes, the difference of
ruggedness decreases among the small protuberances, and improved
touch feeling is offered when the protuberances of the container
cap are gripped. The touch feeling of the small protuberances
further improves if the height of protrusion of the small
protuberances is gradually decreased from the outer side toward the
middle side in the small protuberance region.
[0064] By setting the angles of the large protuberance regions and
the small protuberance regions to be in a range of not smaller than
10 degrees but not larger than 45 degrees in the circumferential
direction, further, the finger tips are prevented from slipping
and, at the same time, such a contact feeling is prevented that the
finger tips are bit by the protuberances.
[0065] Moreover, threaded portions are arranged in the inner
surface of the peripheral wall of the small protuberance regions
and large protuberance regions are arranged on the outer surface of
the peripheral wall at portions where the screw is missing.
Therefore, the resin cools uniformly at the time of forming
preventing the occurrence of poor forming and maintaining balance
in the strength of the container cap.
* * * * *